The Lebanese writer Elias Khoury was born in Beirut and studied Sociology and History at Lebanese University in Beirut and the University of Paris. He served on the editorial board of Mawakif Quarterly, and as the managing editor of Shu'un Falastinia (Palestine Affairs) and of Al Karmel Quarterly; he also served as Director and Editor-In-Chief of Mulhak, the weekly literary supplement of the An-Nahar Daily in Beirut. Khoury has published 12 novels which have been translated into numerous languages, four books of literary criticism, and many articles and reviews. He is also a known play writer and participated in writing two films.